Trump faces backlash after saying he will allow China to build cars inside the United States

 President Donald Trump has sparked backlash after declaring he would be willing to let Chinese automakers build cars on American soil – provided they hire US workers.

The President's surprise comments immediately fueled warnings that allowing Chinese manufacturers into the country could devastate America's homegrown auto industry.

Major carmakers are already pushing Congress to permanently shut the door on their Chinese rivals.

'If China wanted to come in and open a plant to build their cars here, I'd be okay with that,' Trump said in an interview with Fox News.

But he attached a crucial condition: the factories would need to provide jobs for Americans.

'Japan does it, but they hire our people. The big thing is they hire our people,' Trump said.

The President made clear that his welcome would not extend to Chinese companies setting up factories south of the border and then shipping their vehicles into the US.

He said he does not want to see Chinese automakers building cars in Mexico for export to American consumers.

'I'm not knocking Chinese cars,' Trump added.

The remarks quickly triggered criticism online, where some questioned whether Chinese companies could ultimately overwhelm American manufacturers if they were permitted to establish factories in the US.

'If you allow them to, they will come in bunches and destroy our auto industry,' one person wrote on X, arguing that China's highly competitive manufacturing sector could leave American companies struggling to keep up.

Another predicted that getting Chinese vehicles onto American roads was ultimately Beijing's objective, warning: 'The US auto industry could die out - perhaps within a year.'

Others seized on Trump's stance toward neighboring countries, with one critic writing: 'But applies tariffs on Canada and Mexico for that exact thing.'

Another claimed: 'He's just trying to make sure that China doesn't bring a car plant to Canada first.'

Broad opposition to allowing Chinese automakers into the country extends far beyond Trump's online critics.

US automakers have urged the President not to agree to give Chinese car companies access to the American market.

Trump is due to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping in Washington in two weeks time.

One of the most prominent warnings has come from Democratic Michigan Senator Elissa Slotkin, whose state remains at the heart of America's automotive industry.

On Wednesday, Slotkin said she had heard 'rumors that Trump is planning to allow Chinese cars to be sold in the US, as part of a larger deal he's putting together.'

'That would be a strategic mistake,' she warned.

Trump hit back, calling Slotkin's claim a 'total phony rumor' and insisting he had kept Chinese vehicles out of the United States.

In subsequent comments, Trump indicated he could accept Chinese-owned manufacturers actually producing vehicles inside the US and employing American workers, rather than simply importing Chinese-built vehicles into the country.

The debate comes as America's auto industry is pressing Washington to go in precisely the opposite direction.

The Alliance for Automotive Innovation represents major manufacturers including General Motors, Ford, Toyota, Volkswagen, Hyundai, Honda and Stellantis.

Last week the Alliance urged congressional leaders to enact a permanent ban on the sale, import and manufacture of Chinese connected vehicles, hardware and software before the end of the current Congress.

Alliance president and CEO John Bozzella issued a stark warning about what the group sees as both an economic and national-security threat.

'Right now, Chinese automakers are dumping subsidized vehicles with connected software and hardware around the world,' Bozzella wrote.

He said China was already capturing market share across Europe, Australia, Southeast Asia, Mexico and South America, while raising fears about the enormous amounts of information modern connected vehicles can collect.

Bozzella warned that the vehicles are capable of 'collecting, processing and transmitting sensitive vehicle and consumer data to the Chinese Communist Party.'

'This hasn't happened inside the US yet, but given the scale and urgency of this threat, we urge you to enact a Chinese vehicle, software and hardware ban before adjourning this year and make this policy the law of the land,' he wrote.

The industry group argued that legislation was needed to ensure the restrictions could not simply be reversed through a future change in administrative policy.

'Enacting a permanent ban on Chinese vehicles and high-risk hardware and software in the 119th Congress will send a clear and bipartisan message that China's strategy to dominate global automotive manufacturing will be met with a national security policy response from the American government,' Bozzella added.